PC Advisor's most commented stories of the week – 6th January 2012

Issue that got our readers fired up

By PC Advisor staff | PC Advisor | 06 January 12

There's been plenty of technology stories hitting the news this week, from the fact PC users are deserting Windows XP in favour of Windows 7, to Anonymous threatening Sony. Our readers have been pretty vocal when it comes to their opinions. Here's PC Advisor's most-commented stories of the past seven days.

Users desert Windows XP in near-record numbers

Microsoft's Windows XP shed a large amount of usage share again last month as users continued to desert the decade-old operating system for Windows 7. Windows XP lost 2.4 percentage points of share to post a December average of 46.5%, a new low for the aged OS in the tracking of Web metrics firm Net Applications. The month's fall nearly matched the record 2.5-point drop of October.Ron Sullivan said: "You do not have to join the Lemmings. WXP still has a lot of life left for those of us that are fully entrenched with it. It has taken 10 year to get all the glitches and drivers fully smoothed out with most hardware and software manufacturers who have just about everything running nice and smoothly."While Sirjohng added: "IE9 is a good example of software starvation beginning but, Microsoft has to move forward to survive. Without them how would the world carry on as practically everything that happens in everyday life is entwined with computers running mainly Windows".

Crysis 2 most pirated PC game of 2011

Crysis 2 was the most pirated PC game of 2011, according to figures from Torrent Freak. The much acclaimed first-person shooter, developed by Crytek, was pirated almost four million times on PC alone.Alexander Stopher suggested publishers should "track the PC's hardware details when entering a Serial Key? Then only that one PC can open that game". However, MC pointed out that if "you buy a new graphics card, or a new motherboard, then the hardware details no longer match and you have to buy a new copy of the game".

Microsoft claims Comet sold 94,000 pirated Windows discs

Microsoft has launched legal action against UK high-street retailer Comet for creating and selling 94,000 pirated copies of Windows recovery CDs. The tech giant says the counterfeit discs were sold to Brits that purchased PCs and laptops with Windows XP and Windows Vista pre-loaded on them. Microsoft claims the discs were created at a factory in Hampsire and then in various Comet stores across the country.Omendata said: "Users often don't create their own recovery discs in time for a disaster so I guess Comet was just trying to give a bit better customer service then is punished for it. What's the difference between the customer creating the recovery DVD on a blank dvd-r and Comet?"Peter added: "If the PC's had windows pre-loaded on them with a valid legal certificate of authenticity on the outside, hence a legal copy of the OS installed, I don't see what the problem is if the disk supplied for recovery should the system fail did not originate from a Microsoft factory with a hologram on it."

Anonymous Threatens Sony, Spares PSN Customers

The loosely organised hacker group known as Anonymous has Sony in its sights once again. After releasing a video a few days ago wherein they threaten to destroy Sony's network, the group, which has been organising in the IRC channel #OpSony, has clarified the meaning of their declaration. Unlike the infamous PlayStation Network hack of 2011, the target of this attack is not Sony's customers or even the Playstation Network itself, but Sony's executives.Arron Morton said: "Is there really any point. You hackers need to grow a pair of balls and face Sony instead of trying to wreck there company."

Google begins roll out of new-look homepage

Google has begun rolling out a new-look homepage to a handful of web users. The new design of Google's main site, which was first announced in November last year, is part of "a new look and feel for Search, News, Maps, Translate, Gmail and a bunch of other products".However, our readers don't seem to be impressed.Boo said: "They will have a public outcry and a public relations disaster on their hands. Heads will fly," while Gregg admitted the old layout was "so much easier to use".

Smart home- or wearable tech: which is more likely to benefit your digital life this year?

I'm more likely to buy smart home- than wearable tech this yearI'm more likely to buy wearable- than smart home tech this yearI'll probably buy both smart home- and wearable tech this yearI'm unlikely to buy smart home- or wearable tech this yearNot sure/don't know